St. Luke’s Shelter

St. Luke’s Shelter located at Metropolitan’s St. Luke’s Mission Center (3655 Calvert Street, NW D.C.) is a seven-bed, year-round transitional shelter for men. Since 1991, it has helped more than 375 individuals achieve their housing, employment, recovery, and health goals.

The shelter was created through an alliance of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church (which merged with Metropolitan in 2008), local activists, and citizens of Glover Park. The program was conceived as a community-run alternative to the large emergency shelter proposed for the neighborhood by the D.C. government at that time. Since its founding, St. Luke’s has been a model of collaboration between a community of faith and a community of neighbors. The shelter is supported by a collection of dedicated volunteers, area congregations, and local businesses who provide meals, supplies and donations. Read an update about the success at St. Luke's Shelter by blogger Drew Gossett.

A video produced by two college students, Chris Kanz and Daniel Afcha, tells the story of the St. Luke’s Shelter and features Terry Snead, a former resident at both Metropolitan House and the St. Luke’s shelter.

In 2012, the shelter moved to a new operating model which engaged The Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place as a partner in operating the program, which now focuses intensively on vocational rehabilitation and job placement. The video below tells the stories of three St. Luke’s residents who have benefited from this ministry.

Get involved

Contribute. The St. Luke’s Shelter is funded primarily through grant contributions and donations from neighborhood residents, local businesses, and other supporter. Make an online donation to the work of the St. Luke’s shelter through Network for Good.

Donate meals. Four evenings per week the dinner meal served at St. Luke’s is prepared and delivered by volunteers who drop off a hot meal for seven. To learn more about donating meals to St. Luke's Shelter, contact meal coordinator Sarah Campbell or sign up online to donate a meal.

Donate supplies. St. Luke’s Shelter is always in need of cleaning and laundry supplies, paper products, breakfast items (coffee, creamer,cereals), toothpaste, and bar soap. All donations may be taken directly to the Shelter any evening between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m..

Be a leader. A community advisory council comprised of individual supporters of the Shelter works to coordinate volunteers, donations and communications.

Get connected

For information on getting involved with the St. Luke’s Shelter, contact Rev. Dottie Yunger.